Shaghaf Oud Tonka Swiss Arabian 2023 Eau de Parfum

The new Shaghaf oud tonka by Swiss Arabian comes in a beautiful turquoise bottle that has nothing to do with its smell. Or maybe it does as it smells like heaven
The perfume is opening with a plasticky almond and soon this is blending with orange blossom and a mellow tonka for a delightful experience.
Not a screaming fragrance but well performing.
For more info please check my video review here below.

Tried this as a sample and instantly FELL IN LOVE! I bought a full bottle a month after without hesitation. It quickly landed in my top 5 (maybe 6) and is easily one of my best purchases of 2025!

This fragrance was my tonka awakening Even after trying BDK Velvet Tonka, this one wins by FAR - sweeter, smoother (especially with time), longer-lasting, and a total compliment magnet .
And the bottle? Stunning. Reminds me of Tiffany & Co

That said, I definitely recommend trying a sample first to make sure it suits you, but fair warning: you’ll probably fall in love just like I did

Update: having it now for about 3 months, I can say it's smoother by far compared to the 1st time I used it (which I did not have an issue with btw). Please leave it to sit if you blind bought and not a fan of it.

10/10

If you love l’occitane almond hand cream - you will adore this. It is similar direction, but way more complex and interesting. Creamy, flowery, sweet, soft, but not lactonic or cloying. Performance is great, yet it doesn’t feel chocking and doesn't overwhelm you even when you overspray. One of the best perfumes I have ever smelled.

This is very Gourmand to me. You defnitely get the orange blossom, Almond and Tonka Bean immediately. I believe that this scent is more of a winter perfume and will shine there due to how sweet it is. This can be beast mode if you overspray, so be aware of this. It can work for the office as well, as long as you are light handed.

The hype around "Shaghaf Oud Tonka | Swiss Arabian" continues.
Currently, one has to pay up to €130 to secure a bottle.
Way too much for a dupe.
That's why I've only acquired a decant so far.

Shaghaf Oud Tonka is a clone of Velvet Tonka and a very good one at that, with great performance.

As you know from the original, Shaghaf is also a marzipan/almond dream.
And the almond note doesn't take long to show up.
From the first spray, you get a powerful dose of almonds.
Anyone familiar with almond syrup knows roughly how the opening smells.
In fact, I hardly perceive anything else in the first moments.

Only in the dry down do floral notes join in; I would claim to detect jasmine.
However, according to the fragrance pyramid, it is orange blossom.
This gives the scent a touch of femininity and creates a clean vibe.
Thus, the fragrance doesn't become too sweet.
Nevertheless, it is quite a sweet scent, which should be kept in mind.
The Parfumo "Abuparfüm" mentioned that the scent smells like marzipan soap to him.
That actually captures it quite well.
However, the floral notes are not in the foreground, which is important to mention.
The main player here is the almond note; it steals the show from everything else.

Later in the dry down, I also perceive a subtle vanilla and a bit more tonka bean.
Cinnamon and amber wood, on the other hand, are not prominent for me at all.

In the end, it is a lightly powdery almond, tonka dream with a subtly clean touch in the background, created by the floral notes.

The performance is outstanding.
Although Shaghaf Oud Eau de Parfum in the Shaghaf Oud line is still the undisputed number 1 in terms of performance.
Nevertheless, Shaghaf Oud Tonka does not need to hide with its performance.
With a super strong projection and excellent longevity, the turquoise one knows how to impress.

What I would like to note is that I perceive the perfume as quite feminine, as mentioned above.
Still, I enjoy wearing it and find the scent very pleasant.
Because it is not a scent where one says it is ONLY for women, like "La Vie est Belle L'Eau de Parfum | Lancôme" or "My Way | Giorgio Armani".
For many, the scent is definitely still unisex.
But in my opinion, the scent is quite feminine.

My conclusion: Although Swiss Arabian has done a good job here and brought a perfume with niche quality to the market, I would still wait until the price drops.
At €50, you can buy it without hesitation.
When I think that my first Shaghaf cost around €13.99 about 6-7 years ago, even €50 is not a bargain.
Nevertheless, it is fair for the quality you get here.
Many paid €69.99 and are super satisfied.
However, I would not recommend a blind buy at that price.
Better to get a decant first and then decide.
I personally find it beautiful and look forward to adding it to my collection soon, so I can only recommend it if the price is right.